£500,000 for physical activity programmes

More than £500,000 is being provided to community organisations in Belfast to promote physical activity and get more people moving across the city.

The Belfast Strategic Partnership, made up of the Public Health Agency (PHA), Belfast City Council (BCC) and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT), is providing £519,500 funding through its Get Active Belfast scheme for programmes which range from activities for people with health conditions and getting families active, to community gyms, youth programmes and getting active with Ulster Rugby.

Séamus Mullen, the PHA’s Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (Belfast and South Eastern area), said: “In Belfast, 48% of adults undertake no physical activity in a typical week, so these programmes are vital in helping to promote a better approach to health and wellbeing and encourage people to be more active and healthier.

“One of the main aims of Get Active Belfast is to address health inequalities. People living in the most disadvantaged areas are generally more likely to develop serious long-term health conditions, which results in having a lower life expectancy than those in the least disadvantaged areas.

“These initiatives will be delivered within these communities, increasing opportunities for participation in physical activity, reducing inequality and improving the health and wellbeing of our population.

“Being more active and having a healthy diet can have a positive impact on physical and mental health. It can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, as well as helping to prevent depression.

Kim Kensett, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Senior Officer at Active Belfast, said: “Increasing physical activity levels, to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities, requires the support of a wide range of organisations and actions.

“Everyone deserves the best health possible and we can help them achieve that by providing the right opportunities. We are supporting 115 organisations to deliver 22 Get Active Belfast projects across the city, helping us continue to be innovative, work together and encourage people to be more active and healthier.

“Get Active Belfast physical activity programmes are a significant opportunity to get more people, more active, more often – and I encourage everyone to get involved.”

Notes to the editor

Get Active Belfast sets out seven pledges to deliver on increasing physical activity levels, address inequalities and improve health and wellbeing across Belfast. Each pledge is evidence-based and relates to one of the seven ‘best investments’ for physical activity as identified by the Global Advocacy for Physical Activity. The full document can be read at www.makinglifebettertogether.com